Postpartum Care Traditions

Postpartum Care Traditions

“There’s no doubt about it—from maternity leave (or lack thereof) to postpartum care traditions for mother and baby, the United States is seriously lacking. Which is why we’ve found the book The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother so inspiring. Rooted in Chinese practices and giving a nod to rich postpartum rituals around the world, this thoughtful tome is filled with healing recipes and guidance on how women can take care of themselves after birth (or recruit others to take care of them). One of our favorite sections of the book is a rundown of other global postpartum care traditions that are thoroughly engrained in culture. Read some of them, excerpted from the book, below. Who knows, maybe some of these time-tested cultural traditions will inspire your own postpartum plans.”